Bismillah and Its Blessings

THE STATUS AND IMPORTANCE OF BISMILLAH 

With reference to all important projects, works, chores and missions, 

the shari'ah has urged its adherents to begin them with: 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 

The Hadith states: 

BISMILLHIR-RAMNIR-RAM 

KULLU AMRIN DH BLIN LAM YUBDA’ 

BI BISMIL-LHI FAHUWA AQA` 

Any important work that does not begin with Bismillah is imperfect. 

According to another version: 

KULLU AMRIN DH BLIN LAM YUBDA’ 

BI BISMIL-LHI FAHUWA ABTAR 

Any important work that does not begin with Bismillah 

is devoid of Barakah 

When there is no barakah the chances are that a person will not be 

successful in that project. Therefore,



Should be read before beginning that project or work. 

THE BARAKAH AND BLESSINGS OF BISMILLAH 

Bismillah: The Essence Of The Holy Qur'an 

According to some scholars, Surah Al-Fatihah is the essence of the 

entire Qur'an. And: 



is the essence of Surah Al-Fatihah. 

When Bismillah Was Revealed… 

Jabir is reported to have said that when: 



was revealed, the clouds gave way by moving to the East, the winds 

ceased blowing, the oceans became calm, the creatures prepared 

themselves to listen, the shayatin were pelted with fire from the 

heavens and Allah , swearing an oath by His honour, declared: 

Anyone who says this name of mine upon anything, I will surely impart 

barakah in that thing. 

Ad Durrul Manthur and Ibn Kathir

Bismillah Before Wahi 

In Ad-Durrul Manthur, Ibn Umar is reported as saying that surely, 

whenever Jibreel used to bring wahi to Rasulullah , he used to first 

recite: 



The reason for the above is as follows: in Bismillah there are three 

names of Allah : 

1) Allah which is His personal name indicating that all projects can 

only be initiated by the will and wish of Allah . 

2) Rahman (Kind) which is His attributive name indicating that 

only Allah can keep that project intact and existent 

(guarding it against destruction). 

3) Rahim (Most Merciful) which is also His attribute name indicating 

that only Allah can, through His mercy and grace, enable any 

person to derive benefit from that project. 

This clearly proves that any project beginning with: 



will be granted barakah (blessings) from the beginning till the end.

Bismillah Before Doing Anything 

It is for this reason that Rasulullah used to recite: 


before doing any work. He also advised the ummah to do the same. 

For example, reading it before shutting the door, before putting out the 

light, before taking meals, before drinking water, before boarding any 

mode of transport. 

The Beauty Of Islam 


Islam is not confined only to the masjid and madrasah. It is a way of life. 

Each and every aspect of a Muslim's life is supposed to be deen. It is for 

this reason that Rasulullah has shown the ummah simple little 

methods which would render each and every worldly affair of his to 

become deen and for which he will be rewarded. It is for this reason 

that saying: 



before any action, will render that action into an ibadah for which the 

reader will be rewarded. Besides by saying: 

BISMILLHIR-RAMNIR-RAM


before any action, one is suggesting that his every affair - whether small 

or big - can only be accomplished with the help and mercy of Allah . 

Thus every activity of a person will become an ibadah. By doing this, he 

will draw closer to Allah and distance himself from the accursed 

Shaytan. And by not doing this he will deprive none other than himself. 

According to Ibn Abbas in Ad-Durrul Manthur, Rasulullah has said 

that people are unaware of the blessings of one ayah of the Holy Qur'an 

which was revealed to no one other than me and Sulaiman . And 

that is: 



Remembering Allah Through His Three Thousand Names 

It is mentioned in Tafsir Ruhul Bayan that Allah has three thousand 

names. He revealed one thousand to the angels, one thousand to the 

prophets , three hundred are mentioned in the Towrah, three 

hundred in the Zabur, three hundred in the Injil, and ninety-nine in the 

Holy Qur'an. One name He has kept to Himself; He revealed it to no 

one. He has condensed all His names into the three names contained in: 


In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

They are Allah, Rahman and Rahim. Any person saying: 



is as though he has remembered Allah by His three thousand names. 

Teaching Children To Say Bismillah: 

Forgiveness For Parents 

A Means Of 

It is reported from Abdullah bin Abbas that as soon as the tutor says 

to a child, read: 


the teacher, the child and the child’s parents are all guaranteed 

freedom from the fire of Jahannam. 

An Incident 


It is reported that prophet Isa passed by a grave whose inmate was 

being tormented. After some days he happened to pass by the same 

grave again. This time there was no punishment. The inmate was in 

great comfort. This surprised him a great deal. He asked Allah : 

“Lord, what brought about Your mercy so that you have lifted the 

punishment from this person?” Allah replied: “O Isa, when the man 

died, he left behind a child. When his mother took him to the 

madrasah, the child said:



in the presence of the teacher, it does not befit me to keep on punishing 

his father while he called me Rahman and Rahim. Hence, I forgave him. 

Bismillah - A Means Of Deliverance From Punishment 

It is reported from Abdullah bin Mas'ood that: 



has 19 letters and the angels of Jahannam are also 19. Anyone who 

says: 



will be safeguarded against the 19 angels of Jahannam 

Tafsir Qurtubi and Durrul Manthur, volume 1 page 9 

Bismillah - A Means Of High Status In The Hereafter 

Rasulullah is reported as saying that any du'a which begins with:



is not rejected. By saying: 



the scales of my ummah will become heavy on the Day of Qiyamah”. 

The other people will enquire: 

“Why are the virtues of the Ummah of Muhammad so heavy?” Their 

prophets will reply: “In the utterances of the Ummat of Muhammad 

there is such an honourable name of Allah that if it is placed on one 

side of the scale, and the sins of the entire creation are placed onto the 

other side, then the side with the virtues will be heavier.” 

Other Wonders Of Bismillah 

Rasulullah is reported to have said that as long as people keep on 

saying: 



it will be a means of safeguarding them against sickness; a means of

granting riches to the destitute; a means of freedom against the fire; a 

means of safety against being swallowed by the earth; a means of 

safety against faces becoming distorted; and a means of safety from 

stones raining down from the heavens. 

Ghunyatut Talibin Page 157 

A Hadithe Qudsi 

Rasulullah said that the angel Jibreel made a mention of this 

hadith under oath that he heard it from the angel Mika'il under oath 

who heard it from the angel Israfeel under oath that Allah said; 

“By my honour, grace and grandeur, whoever reads: 



and surah Al-Fatihah jointly once, then you be witness that I shall not 

burn his tongue and I will save him from the fire as well as the 

punishment of the grave and on the day of Qiyamah. 

Note: Reading Bismillah and surah Al-Fatihah jointly means to read it as 

follows: 

BISMILLHIR-RAMNIR-RAMIL 

AMDU LILLHI RABBIL-`LAMN 


Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds:

Saying Bismillah Before Wudhu 

Rasulullah said: “One who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, his 

wudhu is incomplete.” 

Tirmidhi 

It is reported from Abu Hurairah that anyone who does not say 

Bismillah before wudhu, only the sins committed by the limbs which 

are washed in wudhu will be washed away; and one who says 

Bismillah before wudhu, the sins of the entire body will be washed 

away. 

Mishkat 

Saying Bismillah Before Meals 

Umar Ibn Abi Salamah reports that Rasulullah said to me: “Say 

Bismillah and eat with your right hand the food that is in front of you.” 

Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi 

Whoever ate without saying Bismillah, Rasulullah used to hold his 

hand and urge him to say Bismillah. 

Zadul ma'ad, Uswah-e Rasoole Akram 

The scholars have said that it is preferable to say the Bismillah aloud so 

that it is a reminder for those who forget. 

Also, Ibn Hibban is reported as saying that if Bismillah is said prior to 

utilising any bounty of Allah and Alhamdu-lillah is said after utilising 

it the user will not be asked to give accountability for that bounty on 

the Day of Qiyamah. 

Blessings In Food 

By saying Bismillah before eating, barakah is imparted to that food. 

Hence, Aishah reports that Rasulullah was once having meals with 

the Sahabah when a Bedouin came along and joined them. He

finished all the food in two morsels. Rasulullah remarked that if he 

would have said Bismillah before eating, this food would have sufficed 

for everyone. And if anyone forgets to say Bismillah, he should say: 

This will make the Shaytan vomit the food he had eaten. (This means 

that the barakah will return) 

Abu Dawud 

Not Saying Bismillah - A Cause For Remaining Hungry 

A person once complained to Rasulullah that he ate food but still 

remained hungry. Rasulullah said that perhaps you are not saying 

Bismillah before meals. He admitted. Rasulullah said that by not 

reading Bismillah your stomach does not fill. 

When Undressing 

BISMILLHI-AWWALUH WA KHIRAH 

In the name of Allah at its beginning and end 

Anas reports from Rasulullah that when a person undresses for the 

purpose of either relieving himself or bathing or having relations with 

his spouse then the Shaytan interferes and plays with his/her private 

parts. If he/she says Bismillah before taking off the clothes, then this 

serves as a barrier and safety against the shayateen and jinnat. 

Tirmidhi 

The masnun du'a mentioned in Amalul Yaum Wal Lailah is this:

BISMILLHIL-LADH L ILHA ILL H 

With the name of Allah besides whom there is none 

worthy of worship. 

Safety Against Shaytan When Leaving Home 

According to the ahadith anyone who recites the following du'a when 

leaving the house then Allah responds by saying: “ I have given you 

protection and I have saved you from your enemy, the Shaytan.” 

(Thus, the Shaytan departs from him). 

Tirmidhi 

The du'a is as follows: 

BISMILLHI TAWAKKALTU ÀLAL-LH. WA L 

 

With Allah’s name. I rely in Allah. 

There is no power to do good or abstain from evil 

except with the help of Allah. 

Bismillah When Entering Home 

Jabir reports from Rasulullah that when a person says Bismillah 

and enters his home and then says Bismillah and begins eating his 

food then Shaytan says to his friends: “Let's get out of here. There is 

no food here nor sleeping place.” And if the person does not say 

Bismillah then Shaytan says to his friends: “There is food as well as 

sleeping place for us here.” 

Muslim, Abu Dawud

Masnun Du'a When Entering Home 

ALLHUMMA INN AS’ALUKA KHAYRAL MAWLAJI WA KHAYRAL 

MAKHRAJI. BISMILL 

 

O Allah, I ask of You the good of entering and the good of leaving 

(this home). With Allah's name we enter and with His name we leave 

and upon Allah, our sustainer, do we rely. 

Safety Against Calamities Of The Day And Night 

Recite the following du’a three times after Fajr and after Maghrib: 

BISMILL 

 

(I begin this day) with the name of that Allah with whose name 

nothing on earth or in the heavens can cause harm. 

And He is All-hearing, All-knowing. 

Safety Of One's Deen, Life, Family And Belongings 

Recite the following du’a three times after Fajr and after Maghrib:

BISMILLHI ÀL 

 

With Allah's name do I seek protection of my deen, my life, my 

children, my spouse and my belongings. 

Safeguarding A Child From The Shaytan As Soon As It Is Born 

Imam Bukhari (R.A.) has mentioned a Hadith from Abdullah bin Abbas 

: Whoever says : 

BISMILLHI ALL 

 

O Allah, keep us away from the shaytaan and keep him 

Away from what You provide us with. 

before having relations with his wife, the child that will be born as a 

result of that will be safeguarded against the harassment of the 

Shaytan. 

Bukhari 

Before Every Du'a 

Rasulullah has said that any du'a which begins with:



It is not rejected. 

Ghunyah 

When In Pain 

Uthman bin Abil Aas once complained to Rasulullah about bodily 

pain. Rasulullah said that place the hand on the part that is in pain, 

then say Bismillah three times and this du'a seven times: 

¿½&= %ˆ¼9 %&|« ‚ |†1¿¼pˆÉ %&-½‰d% 

A`DHU BILLHI WA QUDRATIH MIN SHARRI 

M AJIDU WA UDHIRU 

I seek refuge in Allah and His might from what I feel and fear. 

He did as he was told, and the pain disappeared. 

When Embarking A Ship 

It is reported from Hussain Ibn Ali that Rasulullah said that my 

Ummah will be safeguarded against drowning as long as they say this 

du'a when embarking a ship: 

BISMILLHI MAJRH WA MURSH INNA RABB 

LAGHAFRUR-RAM. WA M QADARL-LHA AQQA QADRIH 

(Please Note : “” should be read as the “e” of end but prolonged)

With Allah's name be its sailing and mooring. Surely, my Lord is 

most forgiving and kind. And they have not understood Allah as 

He aught to be understood. 

Bismillah Brings One Closer To Allah . 

According to one hadith, Rasulullah was asked by Uthman 

regarding Bismillah. He replied that it is one of the great names of 

Allah and it brings a person as close to Allah as is the closeness 

of the whiteness and blackness of the eyes. 

Tafsir Ibn Kathir 

To Simplify A Difficult Task 

Ali is reported as saying that: 


is an effective du'a for simplifying a difficult task; and removes all grief 

and brings happiness in the heart. 

For Success In Any Project 

Whoever reads: 




every day, then makes du’a for the success of his project, Allah will 

surely grant him success in that project. 

Qur'ani Ilaaj

Safety Against All Calamities 

Whoever writes: 



on a piece of paper and keeps the paper on him, he will be 

safeguarded against all calamities. 

Qur'ani Ilaaj 

The Benefit Of Writing Bismillah 

A pious person says that whoever writes: 



On paper and keeps the paper with him. Allah will grant him honour 

and no one will harass him. 

Tafsir Mudhihul Qur'an 

The same person says that whoever recites: 



many times and keeps the meaning in mind, the people will hold him 

in high esteem and no one will ill treat him.

Strengthening The Memory 

Recite: 


numerous times, blow in water and let the person who has a weak 

memory drink it. Insha Allah, any weakness in memory will soon 

disappear. 

For Love And Affection 

Reciting: 



blowing in water and letting someone drink the water, will make love 

and affection for his family come into his heart. 

For Children To Live 


Any woman whose children do not live after birth should read: 



many times and keep the meaning in mind. Her children will live, 

Insha-Allah.

Barakah And Safety In Crops 

Write: 


and bury the paper in the field. The crops will be safeguarded against 

all calamities and there will be barakah in it. 

For Any Need To Be Fulfilled 


It has been narrated in Tafsir Azizi and A'male Qur'ani that a person 

should read: 


numerous times. When he has reciting it a substantial number of times 

times, he should offer two rak'ah nafl and make du'a to Allah for his 

needs. Then he should perform the same routine numerous times in 

the same way. Insha-Allah, his needs will be fulfilled. 

Before Starting A Journey 


Jubair Ibn Mut'im says that once Rasulullah asked him whether he 

was desirous that whenever he went out on a journey he should be 

more prosperous than his companions. He said: “Yes, O messenger of 

Allah, may I sacrifice my father and mother for you.”

Rasulullah said: “Recite the last five chapters of the Qur'an by 

beginning every surah with Bismillah and finally, ending with Bismillah.” 

Jubair says that prior to this I always found myself having less than 

my companions. But after I began practising on the instructions of the 

prophet, I found myself more prosperous than my companions. 

Tafsir Mazhari 

For Safety Against Crime 



If the above is read before going to bed, the house will be safeguarded 

against burglary. 

For Safety Against The Evil Effects Of Shaytan 


If the above is read before going to bed, the reader will be safeguarded 

against the evil effects of Shaytan. 

For Safety Against Sudden Death 

If, prior to going to bed, 




is read, the reader will be safeguarded against sudden death. 

To Overpower A Tyrant 

For overpowering a tyrant say following in his presence.: 



Safety Against A Tyrant Ruler 

Read 



as often as possible and blow on the paper and keep this paper on the 

body (in the pocket etc). Insha-Allah, the one who does this and then 

approaches the tyrant, the tyrant's attitude will change for the better. 

He will respond kindly and the person will be secure against his harms. 

For Headache 

Write 



on a piece of paper and tie it around the head. The headache will 

lesson and then disappear, Insha-Allah. 

INCIDENTS RELATING TO BISMILLAH 

Although not from the ahadith, the following incidents still have 

lessons for all to keep in mind. 

Bishr Haafi's Incident 

Bashr Haafi once saw a paper with the inscription: 



lying on the ground. He picked it up. He had 2 Dirhams in his pocket. 

He bought perfume with these and smeared it on the paper. That 

night he saw a dream. He was told : “O Bishr Haafi, just as you have 

honoured my name, in the same way I shall make you popular in the 

world and in the hereafter”. 

Abu Muslim Khaulani's Incident 

Abu Muslim Khaulani had a slave girl who used to serve him. For some 

time she was feeding him food mixed with poison to kill him. After a 

number of weeks she saw no signs of illness. She told him what she had 

been doing and she asked him Why no harm was coming to him? He, 

in turn asked her why she was doing this. She replied that he has grown 

old and it was her desire to become free as soon as possible.

This could only happen if he died. He replied that no harm came to 

him because it is his practice to say; 



before taking any food or drink. Thereafter, he set her free so she could 

marry whoever she desired. 

The Story Of Allah's Forgiving A Qadhi (Judge) 

A certain Qadhi passed away while his wife was expecting. The child 

was born. When he grew up, his mother took him to the madrasah. 

When he said: 



in the presence of the teacher for the first time, Allah lifted the 

punishment from his father. Allah said to Jibreel : “O Jibreel, it 

does no befit me to keep on punishing the father while his child 

remembers me with: 



A Fascinating Story Of A Jewish Girl 

It is mentioned in Lam'aate Soofiyyah that a pious man was once 

lecturing on the virtues of: 



A Jewish girl was also listening to his lecture. She was so moved by the 

lecture that she accepted Islam. Whenever she did anything she 

always said: 


When her father, who was the king's minister, discovered that she had 

embraced Islam, he became very upset, He feared that the people 

would look down upon him. He began threatening her in the hope 

that she would forsake Islam. But she would not. Finally, he decided, 

the only solution was to kill her. 

Thus, he thought of a plan. He gave her the ring which was used for 

sealing letters and documents in the king's court. He said to her: “Keep 

it until I ask for it.” 

Saying: 




She took it and put it in her pocket. That night the father tip-toed into 

her room and stole the ring and flung it into the river. That would give 

the king all the reason to hang her. 

The following day a fisherman came along to the minister and gave 

him a fish as a gift. The minister took it and gave it to his daughter to 

prepare it. As soon as she opened the stomach to clean the fish she 

found the ring. She was shocked! For it looked exactly like the ring her 

father had given her! She searched for the ring in her pocket but 

couldn't find it. She read: 


and put the ring back into her pocket. She prepared the fish and 

presented it to her father. He ate the fish. He then asked for the ring. 

She said: 




and produced it from her pocket. The father was shocked for he had 

thrown it into the river! How could she take it out from her pocket! He 

told her what he had done and asked her where she got it from. She 

told him she found it from the fish's stomach. Witnessing the barakah 

of Bismillah he accepted Islam straight away!

The Story Of The Roman King 

It is mentioned in Mudhihul Qur'an that a Roman king wrote to 

Umar that he has continuous headaches and to kindly send him 

some medication. 

Umar sent him a hat. As long as he had the hat on his head he would 

feel well. But when he took it off, the headache came back. He was 

surprised. He took off the hat and inspected it carefully. And he found 

following words inscribed inside: 


The Story Of Khalid 


On one occasion, Khalid surrounded the enemy. They said to him 

that you claim that Islam is a true religion. Show us some proof. He 

said to them to bring him some poison. They brought him a cup filled 

with poison. He said Bismillah and drank it. No harm whatsoever came 

to him. They all embraced Islam. 

The Story Of Faqih Muhammad Zamani 

Faqih Muhammad Zamani had a severe fever. His teacher Faqih Wali 

Muhammad came to pay him a visit. He gave him an amulet and 

saying, don’t open it, he departed. 

As soon as he wore it his fever disappeared. He became curious. So 

he opened it and found:



written in it. This made him lose his confidence in the amulet. fever 

returned. 

He went back to his teacher and offered his apology and asked for 

another amulet. The teacher gave him another one. He wore it and his 

fever again disappeared. He opened it after a year and again, to his 

surprise, found: 



written in it. By this time he was cured and his yaqeen in following 

words grew tremendously: 



SOME MASA’IL PERTAINING TO BISMILLAH 

Mas’lah 1: According to Imam Abu Hanifah (R.A.) It is better to say:



softly in salaah between surah Al-Fatihah and any surah. 

Mas'lah 2: 



Which separates two chapters is not part of that surah though it is an 

ayah of the Holy Qur'an. Therefore it should be given the same honour 

as any other verse of the Holy Qur’an. 

Mas'lah 3: 



Is an exclusive ayah of surah Naml in the following verse: 

INNAH MIN SULAYMNA WA INNAH 


Mas'lah 4: 



Since it is an ayah of the Holy Qur'an, it is not preferable to write it or 

hold a paper on which it (Bismillah) is written, without wudhu. 

Mas'lah 5: : 


Since it is a verse of the Holy Qur'an it should be recited at least once 

aloud in the tarawih prayer. 

Mas'lah 6: It is necessary to say: 




when slaughtering an animal. If a person leaves it out intentionally, the 

animal will not be halal for consumption according to not only Imam 

Abu Hanifah (R.A) but all the Fuqaha Imams 

Ma'ariful Qur'an 

Mas'lah 7: When slaughtering an animal one should say: 

BISMILLHI ALLHU AKBAR 

In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. 

It is sunnah to say Bismillah before wudhu.

According to the ahadeth any of the 4 forms of Tasmiyah can be read: 

BISMILLH. 

BISMILLHI WAL 

BISMILLHIR-RAMNIR-RAM. 

BISMILLHIL ÀMI WAL 

In the name of Allah. 

In the name of Allah, and with His praise. 

In the name of Allah the most Gracious, the most Merciful. 

In the name of Allah the great, and with His praise, 

upon the religion of Islam. 

Mas'lah 8: When lowering the dead into the grave the following form 

of Tasmiyah should be read: 

BISMILLHI WA ÀL 

In the name of Allah and on the religion of 

the Messenger of Allah .

Bismillah and Its Blessings

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